The notion that one man's bad luck is another's good fortune was never truer than yesterday when Worcester's Ben Hinshelwood was dropped from the Scotland squad to play Wales this weekend.

As the 27-year-old utility back headed down England's motorways he could be sure of a warm welcome at Sixways from director of rugby John Brain who will put him straight into his side to face Bath on Saturday.

Having played only nine minutes of this season's Six Nations Championship, coming on as a replacement in the 18-10 win over Italy, Hinshelwood fell victim to Matt Williams' mid-season cull as the Australian called up eight new caps for Sunday's meeting with the grand slam-chasing Welsh.

So while another Australian, rugby league convert Ben MacDougall, gets a call-up Hinshelwood, himself an Antipodean, is left to reflect on a season that is getting more disappointing by the week.

He was forced out of his first Premiership start on the opening day of the campaign with back spasms and Brain believes that problem has contributed to his omission.

There is the feeling that his versatility, having played in every three-quarter position bar fly-half in the last year, counts against him in Williams' eyes.

Brain said: "Maybe there is a coach there who is not absolutely sure where to pick him. That can happen, it is perhaps not clear in Matt Williams' mind where Ben fits in.

"I would say at his best he is worth a place in the centre. If you look at what they have in comparison at 12 and 13 and even at full-back you could argue a case for him.

"I look at the centres that are playing, Hugo Southwell and Andy Craig, and I am sure Ben is worth a place in the team."

Hinshelwood impressed at centre on the summer tour to Australia but his fitness concerns have meant he has missed a third of Worcester's Premiership games.

Brain won't think twice about throwing him in at The Rec, though, in the hope that his displays against Gloucester and Harlequins represented a return to form.